Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8288424.stm

Previous attempts to get leaders to do a TV debate have failed

Gordon Brown has confirmed he is willing "in principle" to take part in a TV debate ahead of the election.

On Friday, the BBC, ITV and BSkyB put forward a joint proposal to stage three live election debates between leaders of the three main political parties.

It is not known whether both opposition leaders would take part.

On Labour's website, Gordon Brown says he wants a series of debates on specific issues including the economy, public services and foreign affairs.

In a letter to party members, Mr Brown said: "So I believe it is right that the parties debate the issues not just in Parliament but in every arena where the public will join in the discussion.

"It is right that we set the issues before the British people.

TV debates now look more likely than ever to happen since all sides have declared their willingness early enough for the details to be hammered out Nick Robinson, BBC political editor Nick Robinson's Newslog Full text: Brown's letter to Labour

"Others can work out the details but what's important for the country is that there is a wide ranging series of television and radio debates with party leaders that are also able to devote attention to the central issues that matter to families: the economy, public services, how we strengthen our communities, and how we work with the rest of the world.

"It is right that there will be a strong focus on the leaders' debates and it is right that in a Cabinet system of government that ministers and opposition ministers also debate the issues in a series of debates on television and radio too.

"I relish the opportunity of making our case directly to the people of this country."

The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said agreeing the detail could be "easier said than done".

In his blog, he wrote: "Brown does not mention the involvement of Nick Clegg but, as I wrote last week, he's said to be keen to go head-to-head with Cameron and to be prepared to agree to debate with Clegg on his own in order to allow that to happen."

He went on to say: "TV debates now look more likely than ever to happen since all sides have declared their willingness early enough for the details to be hammered out before the campaign makes compromise impossible."

The Liberal Democrats said the party would welcome a televised debate and leader Nick Clegg would agree to take part.

The impression I've got is that Gordon Brown really sucks. Any truth to this?

quite possibly, yeah

the debate is also pointless imo, doesnt matter who "wins" these debates, would the media really take Clegg or Brown more seriously if they won them?

exactly, most of the media have already pretty much backed Cameron, why bother in having a debate, when the media plan on ignoring the result unless it favours him, its stupid

also, the UK has a party system, its not about the individuals, its about the POLICY'S ffs

another point, surely given the opinion polls show support for smaller parties on the rise, they should also have the leaders of the smaller party's and stuff on there?

People have been voting based on the personality of the leaders since the 70s, it's about time the system caught up.

He would get more stick for not agreeing to the debate at all, it's taken him along time to make this decision because he had to decide which one would do him less damage.

1. Why?
2. How?

3. You honestly think the debate would have an effect on media bias?

1 - It's just the way things have been trending since Thatcher. You're studying politics, now, right? You'll probably cover it when discussing the concept of "presidential-prime minister"

2 - What what?

3 - Where did I say anything about that? But I don't see how a live feed of pre-approved questions could suffer from much bias, especially as their being conducted by three broadcasters that are different on bias.

1&2 - I meant why should the system change and how should it change

3 - er, from what ive seen of ITV, SKY and BBC's news coverage, they all talk about the Conservatives being the winners already, they also all criticise Brown heavily and dismiss Clegg as a non-entity, to me, they all seem to have the same views on the leaders, I also find it hard to believe the media would change there views even if Cameron was humiliated

The system should change because the way the people vote has changed: we need a directly elected PM/President.

Say what you want about BSkyB, but ITN and BBC tend to look at things objectively, and what they see are opinion polls screaming about a massive Conservative victory, and so they report it as such. Even most of the Labour party think that it's over, and Mandy/Darling have made statements which essentially show them as giving up - are you going to accuse these people of a Conservative bias, also?